Figure toy



June 1933- H. L. RODMAN 2,120,191

FIGURE TOY Filed Aug. 11, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor jzfiadzizaiz vwgm A itorngys J ne 7, 1938. H. L. iQODMAN v 2,120,191

FIGURE TOY Filed Aug. 11, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 In venior Attorneys Ja e 7, 1938. H DMAN' I 2,120,191

' FIGURE TOY Filed Aug. 11, 1936 s Sheets- Sheet 3;

(fa-z? A iiorneys Inventor fl.Z0Zmal2 Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FIGURE TOY Harold L. Rodman, Baltimore, Md.

Application August 11, 1936, Serial No. 95,468

' 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in figure toys of the motoractuated animated type, and has for its primary 4 object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is capable of bending forwardly in a bow and returning to an upright position. 7

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a figure toy of the aforementioned character embodying novel means for controlling the operating mechanism.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an animated figure toy of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, light in weight, highly amusing, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a figure toy constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the invention;

Figure 3 is a view in irregular vertical section through the invention, taken at right angles to Figure 2 and looking rearwardly;

Figure 4 is a detail view in side elevation of the tail;

Figure 5 is a detail view in front elevation of 35 a portion of the operating mechanism;

Figure 6 is a detail view in perspective of the body operating rod;

Figure '7 is a detail view in perspective of the pawl which controls the spring motor;

Figure 8 is a detail view in side elevation of the cam wheel;

Figure 9 is a detail view in side elevation of the pawl which is mounted on the motor shaft-and Figure 10 is a detail view principally in vertical longitudinal section through the inner end portion of the manually actuated plunger.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a base I of suitable material, said base representing feet and being weighted, as at 2. The base is hollow and mounted therein is a spring motor 3 which is provided with a winding key 4. Fixed on the shaft 5 of the motor 3 is a ratchet 6 and a cam wheel I. A plurality of cams 8 are provided in a group on the periphery of the wheel 1.

Mounted transversely in the base is a shaft 9 on which a tail Ill is pivotally mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane. The tail I0 is 5 operable in a slot 1 (see Figure 2) which is provided therefor in the rear of the hollow base I. Projecting from the pivoted inner end of the tail II is a finger i2 which rides on. the periphery of the wheel I for engagement with and actuation .by the cams 8. A coil spring i3 is connected to the finger l2 for maintaining same inengagement with the wheel I and the cams 8.

The hollow base 2 is open at its top and journalled for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the upstanding sides Hi thereof, as at I5, is a hollow body l6. A hollow head I! is integral with the body it. Transverse shafts l8 and l9 are provided in the hollow body IS. A rod has one end pivotally connected off-center tothe wheel 1 and its other end journalled on the shaft I8 for connecting the body Hi to the spring motor 3 for actuation thereby. The reference numeral 2| designates a pawl which is journalled at an intermediate point on the shaft l9, the lower end of said pawl being engageable with the ratchet 6 for stopping the spring motor 3 upon the completion of each revolution of the shaft 5. The pawl 2| terminates at its upper end in an eye 22.

Slidably mounted in a guide 23 in'the head i! is a plunger 24 having journalled on its inner end a roller 25. Aligned with the plunger 24, at the inner end thereof, is a substantially V- shaped guide 26 with which the roller is engageable. A coil spring 21 is provided for yieldingly urging the plunger 24 outwardly or toward retracted position, said coil spring encircling the plunger and having one end engaged with a collar 28 on said plunger and the other end engaged with the guide 23. On the outer end of the plunger 24 is a knob or the like 29 constituting a handle and representing a nose. The nose 29 is operable in an opening 3|! which is provided therefor in the face portion of the head The reference numeral 3| designates a guide below the substantially V-shaped guide 26 in which a rod 32 is slidably mounted. An arcuate head 33 is fixed on the forward end of the rod 32. The other end of the rod 32 is pivotally connected to one end of an angular lever 34 which is pivotally 50 mounted at an intermediate point on a shaft 35 which is mounted transversely in the head H. The other end of the lever 34 is engaged in the eye 22 of the pawl 2|, a'collar 36 being provided on said lever for abutting engagement with said modate the upper portion of the base I.

reference numeral 45 designates representations eye. A coil spring 31 encircles the rod 32 and has one end engaged with the guide 3| and its other end engaged with a collar 38 on said rod for yieldingly urging same forwardly.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. To release the spring motor 3, the plunger 24 is forced inwardly against the tension of the spring 21 through the medium of the knob 29. There is sufficient looseness or play in the mounting of the plunger 24 in the guide 23 to permit the roller 25 to ride upwardly over the substantially V-shaped guide 26 or below same. If the roller 25 passes upwardly over the guide 25 nothing happens. If, however, the roller 25 passes below the guide 26 said roller engages the head 33 and this forces the rod 32 rearwardly against the tension of the spring 31, thus rocking the lever 34 in a manner to disengage the pawl 2| from the ratchet 6, thereby releasing the motor 3. When thus released, the motor 3 rotates the wheel I and, through the medium of the rod 20, the body I6 is swung downwardly on its pivots Hi to substantially the position suggested in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. As the wheel I completes one revolution, the body I6 is raised to a vertical position. At this point, the pawl 2i functions to stop the motor, the spring 21 having been permitted .to return the plunger 24 to the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. As the wheel I rotates, the cams 8 thereon engage the finger I2 and cause the tail ID to vibrate or wag in a vertical plane. The lower end of the body 2 is open, as at 39, to accom- The of arms while representations of ears on the head ll are designated by the reference numerals 4!.

If necessary, a suitable spring may be connected to the pawl 2! for yieldingly urging said pawl into engagement with the ratchet 6.

It is believed that the many advantages of a figure toy constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and

although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A figure toy comprising a base, a motor mounted in said base, a body pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the, base, means operatively connecting the motor to the body for swinging said body forwardly and returning said body to an upright position, means for stopping the motor upon the completion of each operation of the body, and manually operable means for releasing the motor.

2. A figure toy comprising a base, a body pivotally mounted on the base, a motor mounted in said base, means operatively connecting the body to said motor for actuation thereby, means for releasably securing the motor against operation, the last named means including a pawl pivotally mounted at an intermediate point in the body, a substantially hollow head mounted on the body, a rod slidable in said head, means operatively connecting said rod to the pawl, a manually operable plunger slidably mounted in the head said plunger being engageable with the rod for actuating said rod, and a substantially V-shaped guide mounted in the head for directing the plunger toward or away from the rod.

3. A figure toy of the class described comprising a substantially hollow weighted base, a spring motor mounted in said base, a shaft driven by said motor, a ratchet fixed on said shaft, a wheel fixed on the shaft, cams on the periphery of said wheel, a tail pivotally mounted at one end in the base, a finger on the pivoted end of said tail engageable by the cams for actuation thereby, a spring for yieldingly engaging the finger with the cams, a substantially hollow body pivotally mounted on the base, a rod operatively connecting said body to the wheel for actuation thereby, a pawl pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, in the body and engageable with the ratchet for stopping the motor upon completion of each revolution of the shaft, a substantially hollow head on the body, and manually operable means in said head for actuating the pawl for releasing the spring motor.

HAROLD L. RODMAN. 

